SUPPORT & EUROPEAN SUPPORT

SUPPORT & EUROPEAN SUPPORT

Sustainable Innovation Tools

P r o j e c t D e s c r i p t i o n

Project Promoter

University of Leoben, Industrial Liaison Department (AT)

Project Partners

Support: CREAX (BE), Fraunhofer Institute Aachen (DE), Joanneum Research – Graz (AT), AREA Science Park – Trieste (IT), University of Maribor (SI)

European Support: AREA Science Park (IT), CNIPMMR (RO), LTC (SE), TECOS (SI), Fraunhofer IPT Aachen (DE), First Elements (CY), University of Maribor (SI), EBS (EE), CREAX (BE), EU-Commission (European)

Project Number

A/02/B/P/PP-124-214 (Support)

2004-2596/002-001 (European Support)

Project Duration

Months: 24 + 2 (Support)

12 (European Support) Period: 11/2002 – 12/2004 (Support)

10/2004 – 09/2005 (European Support)

Challenge

The Training course SUPPORT shows companies different ways to build up parts of an environmentally sound innovation management system. This approach combines

“cleaner production” tools with tools of the TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) method which form the main part of the training course. To complete the course programme it has been complemented with tools for the assessment of ideas in respect of their environmental compatibility.

The most important goals of (the training course) SUPPORT are:

x To highlight the advantages of a methodical approach to innovations x To convey new tools for problem analysis and idea generation.

x To anchor the ideas concerning sustainable development x To arouse interest for creative methods (with emphasis on TRIZ)

The training course mainly deals with the early stages of innovation management – problem analysis, idea generation and idea evaluation. Almost all tools used in the course are taken from the TRIZ (theory of inventive problem solving) method. The topic “environmental awareness” is elaborated with the help of approved tools that have already been used in various projects coping with „cleaner production“ and its commercial benefits for individual enterprises. Another central issue is the impact of a sustainable form of business on the global market.

Aims

The main aim of the valorisation project EUROPEAN SUPPORT was to transfer the SUPPORT training course to other partner organisation in Europe. Project partners in the following new countries have been responsible to foster the idea of the SUPPORT materials: Slovenia, Greece (Cyprus), Estonia, Sweden, Romania. In order to reach this task, the following activities were carried out in the project EUROPEAN SUPPORT:

performance of a train-the trainer course, translation of the materials (optional), national training courses, certification of the course and the training materials (as MA TRIZ Level 1), establishment of a “network on innovation”

Valorisation Conference on „Cross Cultural Business Competences“

Graz, Austria – 26-27 January 2006

Valorisation Conference on „Cross Cultural Business Competences“

Graz, Austria – 26-27 January 2006

Results and Products

The main products of SUPPORT are:

x Written materials and CD-Rom for the course participants x Presentation materials for the course trainers and

x Videos (sequences) of the whole project and its individual modules SUPPORT currently consists of seven modules:

1. Introduction: Innovation / Creativity & Sustainable Development 2. Aspects of Cleaner Production for Products and Processes

3. TRIZ- tools for Problem Analysis (Innovationchecklist, Ideality, Function Analysis) 4. TRIZ-tools for Idea Generation I (40 Inventive Principles, Contradictions, Altshuller

Matrix)

5. TRIZ – tools for Idea Generation II (S-curves, Evolution Laws & Lines)

6. Tools for Idea Evaluation (Sustainabiltity Indicators, Portfolio Analysis, Spider Diagrams)

7. Project Management

The modules can either be taken individually (one module a day) or combined to form a whole training course. Modules 1 and 2 explain the importance and the benefit of (that can be expected by) using a methodical approach to “sustainable development” and “creativity” within an innovative process. Modules 3, 4 and 5 cope with innovative tools used for the structured analysis of a given task and the methodical formulation of possible solutions. Module 6 introduces a variety of evaluation criteria to facilitate the assessment of the ideas in hand, taking into account the demands of sustainable development. Module 7 gives an overview of approved project management tools, which can be used to successfully put the chosen ideas into practice.

The course was evaluated by the International TRIZ Association MA TRIZ (www.matriz.ru) and the materials are proven to fulfil the MA TRIZ Level 1 requirements.

A Workshop-Series on basis of the training course SUPPORT is carried out by the University of Leoben, Joanneum Research Graz and Stenum GmbH in Leoben (Austria) from January to March 2006. Due to the interest of the companies further workshop series are planned.

Target groups / sectors

Industry, SME´s, Start Up´s, Consultants

Languages

Training Materials: English, German; CD-Rom: English, German; Videos: English;

Presentations / Scripts: Greece, Estonian (European SUPPORT)

Contact Information

Name: Jürgen Jantschgi

Street: Franz Josef Strasse 18 Postcode / Town: 8700 Leoben

Country: Austria

Phone: +43 664 3464559

Fax: +43 3842 46010 40

E-Mail: juergen.jantschgi@unileoben.ac.at Web Site: http://www.unileoben.ac.at Project Web Sites: http://www.leonardo-support.com

http://www.eu-support.uni-mb.si/eu-support/description.htm